Dr. Conca reports that nuclear energy is actually moving forward around the world, even in the U.S.. Third Way recently surveyed the North American landscape and found 60 companies and research organizations developing advanced nuclear technologies. Even more surprising, is that there are 81 advanced nuclear reactor projects in 20 other countries. The U.S. leads in the number of technologies being developed, and there is little doubt our designs are better, so why do we seem to be behind in the race to capture the nuclear market?

Most U.S. developers compete with foreign companies that have their governments as backers and investors and who clear the way for them politically and regulatorily, hoping to get their designs into the global marketplace ahead of everyone else. The U.S. government needs to get on board with this, and help our companies, for a few really good reasons.

We did nuclear first, we did it most and we did it best. Sixty years ago, the U.S. began the civilian nuclear power industry. Exporting nuclear technologies and reactors gave the U.S. significant economic and national security leverage. It enabled us to establish the fundamental nuclear safety standards that have made nuclear the safest of all energy sources. The standards that almost everyone else in the world that has nuclear power follows today.

The Department of Commerce predicts that global demand for nuclear energy technology will total $500 to $740 billion over the next decade. The International Energy Agency expect the world nuclear capacity to double by 2050, as developing economies try to keep pace with growing energy demand and most nations turn increasingly to low-carbon sources to meet emission targets. Capturing even a portion of a market this size would produce rewards for American businesses and workers.